Oakland County residents will soon have another travel option when planning a weekend getaway to Chicago.

In June, Lakeshore Express will begin selling individual tickets for charter flights between Chicago Midway Airport and Oakland County International Airport in Waterford Township.

Tickets will cost $109 each way, and there are no fees for baggage, drinks or snacks, said Jason Ribits, director of sales and marketing for the company.

Ribits, who lives in Berkley, graduated from Birmingham Seaholm High School.

Advertisement

“We’re really excited to bring this service to Metro Detroit,” Ribits said.

“Given our connection to the area and knowing Oakland County so well, we think that people are going to be very receptive to the service, and once they get on board, we hope they see the benefit of flying Lakeshore Express rather than having to make the drive to Detroit Metro (Airport), getting there two hours before the flight.”

“We’re looking forward to bringing a more affordable and convenient way of traveling to Chicago,” Ribits said.

“We’re kind of bringing back the way flying used to be when people looked forward to flying. We hope our private terminals and service make for a more welcome experience.”

Flights begin June 7 and will be offered Thursday through Sunday.

Lakeshore Express began service in late 2010, offering flights between Chicago and the Traverse Bay region of Michigan, shortening a lengthy drive to a one-hour flight.

“We think (the routes between Chicago and Oakland County are) the next stage in our expansion, much in the same way of limiting the drive from four to five hours to one, while making it a little easier for those, especially, coming from the northern Detroit suburbs,” Ribits said.

Oakland County Central Services Director J. David VanderVeen, who oversees the airport, said he has not had direct contact with Lakeshore Express, but he understands the flights will be operating from the Pentastar Aviation terminal.

Contact Dave Phillips at 248-745-4631 or dave.phillips@oakpress.com. Follow him on Twitter @dave_phillips1.